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Presentation on theme: "Beliefs and Superstitions why did people believe in Witchcraft?"— Presentation transcript:

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Supernatural Ideas People did not know much about Science. People did not know much about Science. They had not the knowledge of research and technology we have today so they did not know why natural things happened. They had not the knowledge of research and technology we have today so they did not know why natural things happened. Often, when something unexplained happened it was assumed that this was the work of the Devil. Often, when something unexplained happened it was assumed that this was the work of the Devil.

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Witches People believed that a witch was someone that had entered, into a pact with the Devil. It was not a Sin to be possessed as this was the work of the Devil. A person found guilty of being a witch could be sentenced to death.

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The Law The Witchcraft Act was introduced in 1563 and was punishable by execution. The Witchcraft Act was introduced in 1563 and was punishable by execution. When people sought the help of a Witch they too were considered to have committed a sin and a crime. When people sought the help of a Witch they too were considered to have committed a sin and a crime.

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The King King James VI also strongly believed in witches. He described the signs to look out for to spot a witch.

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King James - Signs of a Witch They are almost always women They are almost always women They are often old They are often old They have a familiar (an animal that follows them around They have a familiar (an animal that follows them around

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King James – Signs of a Witch They have a mark of the Devil (a birthmark or mole) They make models of their victims and cast spells on them They hold strange ceremonies They live alone

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Why did King James believe in Witches? Scotland's witch-hunting had its origins in the marriage of King James to Princess Anne of Denmark. Scotland's witch-hunting had its origins in the marriage of King James to Princess Anne of Denmark. Anne's voyage to Scotland for the wedding met with a bad storm, and she ended up taking refuge in Norway. Anne's voyage to Scotland for the wedding met with a bad storm, and she ended up taking refuge in Norway. James traveled to Scandinavia and the wedding took place in at Kronborg Castle in Denmark. James traveled to Scandinavia and the wedding took place in at Kronborg Castle in Denmark. After a long honeymoon in Denmark, the royal newlyweds encountered terrible seas on the return voyage, which the ship's captain blamed on witches. After a long honeymoon in Denmark, the royal newlyweds encountered terrible seas on the return voyage, which the ship's captain blamed on witches. When six Danish women confessed to having caused the storms that bedeviled King James, he began to take witchcraft seriously. When six Danish women confessed to having caused the storms that bedeviled King James, he began to take witchcraft seriously.